Rise of the Unranked Runner
Last night at our track club’s annual awards banquet several runners and volunteers were honored. At least one was genuinely surprised: the Women’s Open Runner of the Year. She won for finally breaking the 5-hour mark in the marathon and taking 2 minutes off her mile time. And she beat far faster and more competitive females who’d been nominated this year.
Until this year, the club’s board of directors would select the top runners, and as long as I can remember, the top runners came from the competitive racing teams. These teams contain some of the fastest and most fit men and women in the county, state and even country. It’s a rarified group. (The men’s open winner, for instance, finished second overall in the Disneyland Half Marathon.)
But this year our Executive Committee decided to take nominations from the entire membership and then have that same membership select the winners. As a result, some members who’d made significant self-improvements made it onto the ballots and in at least one case, earned more votes than the others.
It’s also worth noting that the top finisher in the women’s division for the club’s grand prix series also is not a member of any track club team.
I want to commend the team captains who handed out awards to people they did not know. They read of these unknown (to them) runners’ achievements with a dose of admiration that typically isn’t bestowed upon the unranked.
Until this year, the club’s board of directors would select the top runners, and as long as I can remember, the top runners came from the competitive racing teams. These teams contain some of the fastest and most fit men and women in the county, state and even country. It’s a rarified group. (The men’s open winner, for instance, finished second overall in the Disneyland Half Marathon.)
But this year our Executive Committee decided to take nominations from the entire membership and then have that same membership select the winners. As a result, some members who’d made significant self-improvements made it onto the ballots and in at least one case, earned more votes than the others.
It’s also worth noting that the top finisher in the women’s division for the club’s grand prix series also is not a member of any track club team.
I want to commend the team captains who handed out awards to people they did not know. They read of these unknown (to them) runners’ achievements with a dose of admiration that typically isn’t bestowed upon the unranked.
